Holding Tank Smell

[Kurt Horvath]

Potential Sources of Smells

I have posted a picture that I show some of the sources for smells
from the holding tanks in the W?D closet.

The red square is the now infamous Watts Check Valve. Take it off and
throw that hunk of junk as far away from your coach as you can.
Reconnect the pipes. It's your call if you want to install a check
valve.

Another source could be the drain trap for the W/D discharge hose.
Designated by the red arrow. The water in the trap can evaporate and
let noxious odors into the coach. The fix for this is Perplies W/D
Drain Trap Upgrade - Message #37996 The last three photos in my
album Bumpersbird show most of the story.

Not all of these coaches are plumed the same the green arrows are
pointing at a vent pipe that connects my Gray and Black tanks. So if
you have an air leak in the Watts or evaporation in the P trap and
the coach windows are open while driving the vacuum effect will give
you a snout full.

The drain pipes may also have Mechanical Plumbing Vents to prevent
siphoning of the drain traps under the sinks, and maybe the shower.
They will be at the top of a vertical pipe located in a difficult to
inaccessible place along the drain lines.

There may be more sources of odor but this will get you started. Rob
suggested the toilet overflow and you might have a loose or broken
pipe that you'll just have to hunt down.

I will pump a product here TREATZALL the best holding tank stuff
I've used in 27 years of RV'ing

Kurt Horvath
95 PT 42
10AC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Robinson"
wrote:
>
> John that's where I found the WATTS valve on mine. It was behind
the W/D and
> accessed through a panel
>
> 2008/10/18 John Mann
>
> > I have a 1985 PT-40 and when I open the windows I get that
smell seems
> > to be from behind the slide out cabinets right next to the washer
on
> > the curb side. Is there some valve behind the washer that is bad?
> >
> > John Mann
> > 1985 pt40
> > Granbury Tx.
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com 40yahoogroups.com>,
> > Leroy Eckert
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Thanks Kurt.
> > > I have studied my prints throughout this thread and I don't
have a
> > Watts valve listed in the parts section, and have never seen one.
It's
> > most likely location would be behind the washer dryer wall in my
> > coach.. My plumbing prints are also not as built in several ways.
The
> > prints show two vac-u-jet roof vents, I have one roof vent so I
guess
> > my vents are tied together somewhere. My prints show two check
vents
> > near the sink water traps; I have two. My kitchen sink and shower
go
> > to the gray tank. The toilet, vanity sink and washer dryer go to
the
> > black tank. I like this configuration because the tanks are almost
> > always balanced out and the washer dryer keeps the black tank
clean,
> > no monitor problems. I do not have any problems while driving
even
> > with a window open if I close the drains prior to departure. I do
not
> > have any problems while stationary, except when using the shower
with
> > the Fantastic fan on. If I crack a window with this fan on while
using
> > > the shower there is no problem. Strange deal. So I close the
drains
> > when driving, and crack a window if I chose to use the Fantastic
fan
> > while using the shower. I seldom use the thing because it sounds
like
> > a jet plane. I like the old Kool-O-Matic in the kitchen much
better so
> > it gets used often..
> > > I still think the vent checks allow air into the tank system
while
> > driving so the vac-u-vent will work; but I do not intend to tear
the
> > coach apart to figure it out. I cannot see how the vac-u-vent can
work
> > without inlet air. To make things worse, the vac-u-vent operates
in a
> > semi-vacuum environment at best, maybe worse. lmo
> > > I am glad you found your problem. This must be an ongoing
problem
> > because of the differences in the coaches and related plumbing.
> > > One other thing, I never use any deodorant in my tanks.
> > > Leroy Eckert
> > > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
> > > Dahlonega, GA
> > > Royale Conversion
> > >
> > >
> > > --- On Fri, 10/17/08, Kurt Horvath wrote:
> > > From: Kurt Horvath
> > > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Holding Tank Smell
> > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com 40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Date: Friday, October 17, 2008, 2:26 PM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Leroy,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I think I have located and repaired the source of the holding
tank
> > >
> > > smell with the widows open while driving. The Watts valve on
the Black
> > >
> > > Tank Flush system. This is a feable device and mine permitted
air to
> > >
> > > pass in both directions. Once I dissasembled the device the
aroma was
> > >
> > > overpowering. The fix thanks to Rob, is a check valve and an
enclosed
> > >
> > > system. I have gotten to test it yet due to my coach being down
with a
> > >
> > > major exhaust system overhaul. I'll let you know ASAP if it
worked.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kurt Horvath
> > >
> > > 95 PT42
> > >
> > > 10AC
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
> Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
> 94 WLWB
>